School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
Organisation profile
Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.
Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.
Main research areas
Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.
Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.
Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.
We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.
Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.
Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.
With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.
Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses
In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.
- 2020
- Published
Business model patterns of sustainability pioneers - Analyzing cases across the smartphone life cycle
Zufall, J., Norris, S., Schaltegger, S., Revellio, F. & Hansen, E. G., 20.01.2020, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 244, 15 p., 118651.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Expertise in research integration and implementation for tackling complex problems: when is it needed, where can it be found and how can it be strengthened?
Bammer, G., O’Rourke, M., O’Connell, D., Neuhauser, L., Midgley, G., Klein, J. T., Grigg, N. J., Gadlin, H., Elsum, I. R., Bursztyn, M., Fulton, E. A., Pohl, C., Smithson, M., Vilsmaier, U., Bergmann, M., Jaeger, J., Merkx, F., Vienni Baptista, B., Burgman, M. A., Walker, D. H., Young, J., Bradbury, H., Crawford, L., Haryanto, B., Pachanee, C. A., Polk, M. & Richardson, G. P., 13.01.2020, In: Humanities & social sciences communications. 6, 1, 16 p., 5.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Indicators for relational values of nature’s contributions to good quality of life: the IPBES approach for Europe and Central Asia
Schröter, M., Başak, E., Christie, M., Church, A., Keune, H., Osipova, E., Oteros-Rozas, E., Sievers-Glotzbach, S., van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Balvanera, P., González, D., Jacobs, S., Molnár, Z., Pascual, U. & Martín-López, B., 10.01.2020, In: Ecosystems and People. 16, 1, p. 50-69 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Arzneimittelrückstände in Trinkwasser und Gewässern: Endbericht zum TA-Projekt
Klauer, B., Aicher , C., Bratan, T., Eberle, U., Hillenbrand , T., Kümmerer, K., Reuter , W., Schiller, J., Schulte-Römer , N., Schramm, E., Tettenborn, F., Völker, C. & Walz , A., 09.01.2020, Köln: Bundesanzeiger Verlag, 146 p. (TAB-Arbeitsbericht ; no. 183)(Verhandlungen des Deutschen Bundestages. Drucksachen; no. 19/16430).Research output: Working paper › Expert opinions
- Published
Embracing conflicts for interpersonal competence development in project-based sustainability courses
Konrad, T., Wiek, A. & Barth, M., 09.01.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 1, p. 76-96 21 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Sustainability in African higher education institutions (HEIs): Shifting the focus from researching the gaps to existing activities
Ulmer, N. & Wydra, K., 09.01.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 1, p. 18-33 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Hydrological tracers for assessing transport and dissipation processes of pesticides in a model constructed wetland system
Fernández-Pascual, E., Bork, M., Hensen, B. & Lange, J., 08.01.2020, In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 24, 1, p. 41-60 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Discrete-Point Analysis of the Energy Demand of Primary versus Secondary Metal Production
Schäfer, P. & Schmidt, M., 07.01.2020, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 54, 1, p. 507-516 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Efficacy of a Self-Help Web-Based Recovery Training in Improving Sleep in Workers: Randomized Controlled Trial in the General Working Population
Behrendt, D., Ebert, D. D., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 07.01.2020, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 22, 1, 18 p., e13346.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The hidden power of language: How “value creation accounting” influences decisions on expenditures, cost reductions and staff costs
Hummel, P. & Hörisch, J., 06.01.2020, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 11, 1, p. 187-206 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review